Captured By A Ruthless Vampire King
|61| ~The Grand Entrance ~

Unedited.

Embry’s POV.

The toy soldiers open the door for us and almost immediately I’m blinded by flashing lights. There is a sea of unfamiliar faces, watching us for a far and taking pictures of every step that we take. A humongous gold gate on the left side of the field is the only thing that separates us from them.

Our security detail is tight and extremely threatening if you ask me. The big serious men with big packing guns wearing identical black and red uniforms waste no time forming a protective circle around us all, Speck, Ghost Falls and my furry little friend included.

His creamy white fur is a great contrast with the snow as his paws pounces on top of it and his tiny little nose is pointed towards the air like he owns this place. Oh, my Goddess! He has more confidence than me.

My wolf most have gone into my inner wolf den because I can’t feel her presence, but I know that she is there, silently scanning the crowd for any potential threat.

My eyes travel in the direction of the golden gate. There are also more toy soldiers stationed outside of it, riding on top of big and scary black horses, appearing to control the crowd. They are all just as threatening as our security detail, if not more and the guns that they are carrying are much bigger than our private security detail guns.

Oh, wow!

This entire experience is threatening to the point that my heart feels like it’s about to drop from out of my chest, down onto the flawless bed of white snow. Cyrus’ hand gives mine and assuring squeeze, once again calming me.

That one action gives me the courage to walk forward, even though I can sense a significant shift in his mood.

The calm, cool, and collected demeanor that he demonstrated last night is replaced with a more serious, threatening, and on guard demeanor. The force of his monster's powerful energy radiated off him. To the others, I know that he appears to intimidate and threatening but I, on the other hand, feel well protected and safe.

His expression is hard, possessive, and masked but there is a tiny hint of amusements that reflects on the small smile curving his lips, which is only meant for me. The cocky little Greek God is smiling because he knows the effect that he has over me. Oh, my Goddess!

My eyes lock onto a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering red monument with a pyramid ending that almost touches the sky. The building is standing in its glory directly behind the crowd. It is such a sight to behold.

“Wow,” I mumble underneath my breath as I take it all in.

“That my love is the Ettore Monument. I’ll take you there to visit before we leave, but right now I need you to focus on entering the house safely,” Cyrus whispers into my ear before he pulls me towards the Red House.

The wind blows as we draw closer. It’s a little chilly outside but not as cold as it was up North. If I didn’t know any better, I would think that it was a cold Autumn day, but the field of white ice and frosted covered pine trees says differently. Winter has come and doesn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon.

A chopping noise begins to flow along with the whistling sound of the wind. I raise my head towards the sky and come in contact with yet another helicopter that is (identical) to the one that we just got off, circling the estate. Cyrus doesn’t seem to be phased by it, meaning that the pilot is most likely one of our men.

My eyes wander onto the darkening gray sky. It appears to be a storm on the horizon but for some strange reason, that seems to do nothing but enhance the scenery. Overall, this city is nothing but a haunting beauty.

“Smile, Em Gem!” my sensitive ears detects Speck's soft-spoken words as she looks in the direction of a million and one flashing lights. “Trust me! You will thank me later,”

Yeah, right! I should have known better than to trust her. Thanks to Speck! I’m walking on thin ice with eight-inch heels, all because I decided to Trust Her!

“Yes! Smile, Sunshine, ” Cyrus booming words appear inside my head. “You look beautiful and tonight is the night that the entire world will know that you belong to me,” and that is all it takes for my face to heat up and for my lips to curve into a gentle smile.

A flood of exciting energy flows throughout my veins because Cyrus is no longer hiding who I am to him and how much he loves me. He has no idea how much that means to me, no idea at all.

Instincts take over as I begin to walk on ice with my head held high shoulders straight and eyes diverted just like Speck advised me to do. My eyes briefly travel over in Cyrus' direction. He too is walking withheld high shoulders straight and eyes diverted. It’s frightening how in sync our movement is to one another. We’re walking as one, besides the fact that I’m smiling, and he’s not.

Oh, yes and let’s not forget the smile. I’m trying my best to smile. Besides, I’m trying my best to remain focused and better yet not trip up over my own two feet, but these got darn high heels are trying their best to prevent me from being great.

Cyrus’s hand suddenly clasps mine as is he’s afraid that I might fall because at this point I actually might. Thanks to Speck coming up with this grand idea of me walking on thin ice in these, Goddess not given eight-inch heels. Nonetheless, Cyrus' tight grip around my hand gives me the balance that I need to make it though.

He is my savior. I turn my head into the direction of the crowd. Judging by the distinctive look that seems to touch just about every vampire that is present, Cyrus is everyone savior, all eyes are glued and dreamily planted onto him.

There are so many unfamiliar faces seeking out for my mate's attention as we make our way towards the Red House. The sea of vampires is a great distance away from us but my sensitive ears make it feel like that they are standing directly beside us. I can still pick up on most of their shouted questions.

“King Cyrus!” more than one vampire shouts out loud.

“Is there another Awaking war on the horizon?”

“What are we going to do about the dog problem? King Cyrus! Please tell me,”

“Is it true that the cold-hearted King is in the states?”

“Who is the Golden hair chosen? Will she be joining you?” One of them asks about Claire. My eyes settle onto the reporter with fiery red hair and her eyes flash to the same color as her hair.

Automatically, I look away. She doesn’t want me to look at her, besides my dad always said that it isn’t polite to stare.

“Screw that,” growls my wolf, making her presence known. “She can fuck off,”

“Yes the fuck she can,” Cyrus releases a menacing growl that is loud enough for all to hear.

Not even a second could end, before he freezes in the middle of the field and everything freezes along with him and when I say everything, I mean everything including the helicopter and my furry little friend, who is now growling in the direction of the reporter as well. Oh, Goddess!

This is so unreal.

Cyrus then turns to face me. “Chin up, my love,” demands Cyrus before he places one of his very skillful finger’s underneath the tip of my chin, literally lifting my chin. “Your eyes lower for no one.” His skillful finger touches my face. “Your head lowers for no one. You will bow to no one, and that doesn’t exclude me. You are a Queen. My Queen,” He declares loud and clear for all to hear.

Silence, there is an audible silence and that’s it. It’s so quiet that you can hear a pin drop into the bed of snow.

Our eyes lock. His sunshine orbs once again sparks fire into my soul. I’m lost. For a brief second, the entire world seems to stop and everyone around us disappears. I don’t see, hear, or feel anyone’s presence but his. Cyrus. All I can see right now is him. My heart flips and my stomach twist.

He is the one and only person that can gain this sorta reaction out of me.

My wolf howls within, she’s loving all of this open affection. I, on the other hand, can’t take it. This public display of affection makes me feel like mush.

Within the next minute, he brings my hand to his lips just to plant a kiss. My face catches fire as usual and my insides suddenly feel like melted snow, I’m an icy puddle.

Shortly after Cyrus turns in the reporter with flaming red hair direction just to flick her off. That’s right! He shoots his middle finger in her direction, earning a choir of sneakers from our entourage before he begins to walk again and everything around us unfreezes.

I just follow behind him, unsure of how to react and no one does. However, the entire scene doesn’t go unnoticed. The crowd goes crazy, literally as they all begin to bang against the gate.

“Get the fuck back,” The toy soldier begins to shout in unions as they begin to push the crowd back. The flashing of each camera starts to flicker more with each passing second. I can feel a million and one burning gazes on us feeling like laser beams, shooting straight into my skull, and they all are dying to know who I am.

“Well, I'll be damn!” Speck whispers. “The Ruthless King has just set it off. So it has begun,”

“You can say that again,” adds in Ghost Falls.

“King Cyrus! Who is she?” My sensitive ear zoom back in on the crowd.

“Is she your chosen? Do all the Kings have a new chosen?”

“What academy did these girls attend?” The same reporter pitches in seconds later.

“She looks like a werewolf!” One of the vampires observe. “And reeks like one as well,”

Cyrus’s grip tightens around my wrist as his head snaps in the reporter's direction.

“Keep Calm Cyrus and Carry on,” Speck swiftly attempts to lighten the mood, earning a silent growl from my mate but luckily for the reporter Cyrus decides to take Speck advice, carrying on.

“Is that the missing she-wolf that the Lycan prince is out searching for, ” Another reporter quickly gains my attention.

The Lycan prince is searching for whom? My neck snaps in the reporter direction and instantly I’m blinded by a series of flashing lights. Caught off guard, I lose focus and worst, my footing. My left heel sinks into the snow which causes me to stumble and almost slip.

Thankfully my mate is here to save the day, catching me before I have a chance to fall flat on my face. The crowd of cameras holding vampires take my momentary second of embarrassment to their advantage just to take more pictures as expected.

Oh, my Goddess! Now the entire vampire community will be talking about the King's savage she-wolf, who tripped over her own two feet. How flipping embarrassing?

Cyrus helps me regain my focus but most importantly my footing before he stops walking, once again causing everything and everybody around us to freeze.

There goes that audible silence. What is up with that? He moves and then they move. How weird is that?

Cyrus chuckles, eyeing me down with a pure look of amusement. “Screw them, Sunshine! They can all go and fuck off,” he murmurs. “If it makes you feel any better I” ll order the entire crowd execution, just say the word.”

My eyes widen. He has to be kidding, I think to myself but my mate's extremely serious facial expression says otherwise.

“You’re not kidding,” my eyes grow wider.

“Ah, you better bet he’s not,” whispers Speck.

Ghost Falls just rolls his eyes.

“No, my love! I’m dead serious,” Cyrus says to me, ignoring the both of them.

Speck suddenly sucks her teeth. “Can you two please just come on! It’s taking us damn near a half of hour to walk three feet,”

“Say the word, Sunshine,” Cyrus ignores her again. “The world is at your feet,”

It is not that serious! “It is not that serious,” I state the obvious out loud.

“Anything that bothers you is that serious to me,” his lips curve into a wicked smirk. “Do you understand?”

I nod my head, and he drops a gentle kiss down on my lips. Sweet and promising. My lips begin to tingle from the brief contact and my toes curl. There goes that hot and cold feeling again.

I love the effect that he has on me and I love it even more that I have the same effect on him.

“You damn right sunshine,” he winks as we twine our fingers like it’s the most natural thing to do in the entire world. “I love you, Embry,” he says loud in clear for all to hear once again, making me feel all warm and mushy inside.

Almost instantly the crowd breaks their silence and goes completely bonkers.

“I love you too,” I admit as we finally make our way into the huge Red House, but not before I hear a series of reporters screaming after us. “The Ruthless King just declared his love to a she-wolf. Our King has claimed a she-wolf, named Embry.”

The Red House is even grander than I originally thought as I get up close and personal. The massive front lawn that we just walked on was only half of this marvelous mansion nature beauty. My eyes briefly scan over, the many different trees, well-groomed bushes and the circular pool with gold fountain, spitting out red water that is centered on the north portico.

I also spot a few fern-leaf beech trees, white oaks, white saucer magnolia, red maples, and American Chestnut Trees, scattered all around. It smells like nature. The plantings on the humongous lawn alone are particularly heaven to a wolf. Closer towards the big gold door, there are many apple trees and rose bushes, which have been perfectly planted in two rows side by side, shadowing the grand driveway.

Speaking of which, “Why didn’t we just drive up in one of your SUV's?” I ask, turning around to face Cyrus. If we did, it surely won’t have caused so much commotion as it did back there.

“What’s the fun in that?′ Speck answers for him. “It’s a new era and no one gives a damn about all of that got damn commotion, besides that was kind of the point,”

“The goal was to create quite the dramatic grand entrance for your grand display into the vampire world and quite the dramatic grand entrance it was,” she smiles, seemly to be oddly proud of herself.

“You got that right,” Ghost Falls just have to say. I quickly came to terms that he doesn’t speak that much unless he wants to annoy Cyrus.

My mate doesn’t say a word as we finally make it to the front door. One of the toy soldiers touches the doorknob and I take a deep breath before I straighten up my shoulders. For some strange reason, I feel like I just dodged a pack of hyenas only to enter a lion’s den. I don’t know why I just do.

Cyrus' eyes lock onto mine. He has this masked arrogant and smug expression with a hint of amusement locked on to his face as the toy soldier pushes open the door for us.

My eyes nearly fall out of my head as we step inside. The Grand Entrance Hall is a large, square, formal foyer space floored with red and white marble.

The Entrance Hall is set off from the cross hall by a colonnade with a T-shaped configuration. However, there is also a clear and red mosaic glass screen door, assembled with topaz, ruby, and amethyst jewels set into the glass in between the Entrance Hall and the Cross Hall that makes the grand hall, even grander. The door alone is the prettiest and most certainly the fanciest thing that I’ve ever seen.

On second thought, I take that back. The hall’s furnishings alone changes my mind. It includes a mahogany pier table and a pair of velvet red french settees with carved gold swans’ heads. Portraits of each Vampire King hangs all over the grand entrance ivy walls.

My eyes briefly scan over every portrait observing each King, who have all been painted out to be these very important but extremely dangerous vampire men, judging by the pictures.

There is a total of ten portraits, one of each King painted individually, one of them painted together and one of my mates smiling wider than I ever could imagine as he stands beside an extremely beautiful and well-desired vampire woman. To further examine the jaw-dropping portrait, I take a step forward but I’m quickly intercepted by Cyrus' hand pulling me to go in the other direction. My furry little friend is following closely behind us and the only sound that can be heard is his tiny little paws pressing down on the squeaky clean marble floor.

The glass door slides and my eyes take in the new crowd of unfamiliar faces surrounding the even grander staircase if that’s even possible. There are so many people crowding all around us that I can’t admire the marble made flight of stairs. The hall is packed and goes silent as soon as we enter. Soldiers, servants, and slaves are bowing out of respect for their King.

“And Queen,” His words enter my head. I can’t help but smile at that.

“You may rise,” Cyrus booming voice booms throughout the hall cutting off my train of thought. Almost at once, I can feel all eyes glued on to us as we make our way into the center of the room. How one how can house so many people, I’ll never know and that’s big coming from me.

I’m a she-wolf for crying out Goddess. I’ve spent my entire life in a packhouse filled with more than forty families on time, plus more. The whispers begin seconds after and all of the humans' slaves and vampire servants are most certainly talking about me.

Absentmindedly, I reach out to grab onto Cyrus's hand. His golden eyes flicker in my direction as a ghost of a smile plays his tasteful lips. His big warm hand then gives my little and cold one a gently reassuring squeeze.

Gutter Butter is the only face that I recognize as we walk towards the staircase. He is standing in front of the other toy soldiers appearing to be rather jazzy, yet still intriguingly intimidating while dressed to impress in his red and black uniform.

He has a smug look on his face as his crystal blue eyes follow our movement. When we finally reach him, he over dramatically bows at our feet.

“Hello Gorgeous,” He greets, earning a silent growl from my mate and a wide smile from me.

“Gutter Butter,” I smile wider and he smiles back. His expression is certainly admiring.

“Your Highnesses.” He forcefully adds in and I can’t help but to giggle Gutter Butter is so funny.

Cyrus rolls his eyes, ignoring him as he begins to pull me up the staircase by my arm. “You are all dismissed,” he slowly hisses underneath his breath but the crowd moves as if his words were spoken loud and clear.

“Aunt Katherine isn’t going to like that,” Speck all but sings, following closely behind us.

“No!” suddenly shouts a gentle but firm voice as the sound of heels clicking on the marble tile enters my eardrums. Everyone in the hall quickly stops what they are doing and freezes in place, including my mate surprisingly enough.

They are all now staring in the direction where the sound of clicking heels is coming from.

Cyrus hands tightening around mine. For the first time since I laid eyes on him, I can detect a dreadful expression plastered all across his handsome face, which completes catches me off guard. What the Goddess?

“Are you okay?” I begin to ask when all of a sudden the sound of clicking heels stops and the fresh scent of mulberry spice, honey, and lemon smothers my senses.

“And what do we have here?” says a gently firm and unfamiliar voice.“Oh, darling! You are such a doll.”

Before I could completely turn around, I’m being tugged forward and wrapped into an almighty hug. “You are so beautiful. Oh, my dear. You are so beautiful,” the woman says and all I can think about is how good she smells but still, I don’t know who she is or what she looks like.

The woman grabbed onto me so quickly I didn’t have the time to take her in. I attempt to briefly pull away, just to get a look but it’s no use this body invader is ford strong, despite her delicate and soft frame.

My mate attempts to save me but is a little too late because the woman decides to finally drawback and is now smiling warmly at me. “Good heavens! I’m so sorry. Where are my manners? My name is Lady Katherine my dear, but you may call me Aunt Katherine,” she introduces with an even wider smile.

Cyrus clears his throat from behind us and in a blur, she is standing directly in front of him and her delicate hand goes flying across my mate's handsome face.

Q: Don’t you just love Aunt Katherine?

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